| Special BTVB Events:
Speakeasy
Productions
Best Wurst Bike Ride
Golf Tournament
About Our Town
Historical information about
the bike ride:
"The first ride was held in 1974, in conjunction with the 100th
anniversary of the founding of New Washington, Ohio," said historian
George O'Briant. "The ride consisted of a 100-mile course to commemorate
their anniversary year."
According to O'Briant, the ride went over well enough, that the group of
riders, named The Dutchtown Wheelmen, decided to do it again. In 1978,
interested members of this group merged with riders from Bucyrus and
organized the Crawford County Cyclists Club. That year, the first ride
(which became the first official Best 'Wurst' Bike Ride) during the
Bratwurst Festival was held. A news article touted that the “Crawford
County Cyclists” had risen, Phoenix-like, from the ashes of the old
Dutchtown Wheelmen." The CCC hosted the ride for several years using a
metric century (62-mile) course, plus a smaller 25-mile ride during the
Bratwurst Festival.
"We had a lot of good bicycling for several years," said O'Briant, who
volunteered to help the staff at the gazebo stop in New Washington
during the 2007 ride. "I really look forward to seeing some of the folks
that were in that group and becoming involved again."
In 2003, the group and its ride merged with the newly formed Bucyrus
Tourism & Visitors' Bureau. The CCC is currently an inactive riding
club, but several members are still riding independently and some are
actively involved in lending a much-appreciated helping hand on ride
day.
Barb Dolch, Best 'Wurst' Bike Ride co-coordinator in 2008
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The 2010 Best
"Wurst" Bicycle Ride will be held on Saturday, August 21, 2010 with
registration again being held at the Crawford County Farm Museum at the
Crawford County Fairgrounds located on Whetstone Street between West
Mansfield Street (Lincoln Highway) and State Route 19.
The Rides will be: 32 miles, 62 miles, 100 miles or the 12 mile family
ride. Registration is $15.00 if paid before August 4th, 2010
or $20.00 after August 4th. For the family ride the cost is
$12.00 per person with riders under 8 riding free. Registration on the
day of the ride will be from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. Commemorative
patches will be given to the first 200 riders returning with the
exception of the family riders. An approved HELMET must be worn during
these rides at all times. Souvenir T-Shirts maybe ordered but must be
ordered and paid for on or before August 4, 2010.
There
will be food/beverage rest stops along the routes including Lowe-Volk
Park Nature Center and the New Washington Gazebo. Helpers along
the routes will be the Sag Wagons patrolling the 32, 62, and 100-mile
rides, and Ham Radio Operators operating along all the routes.
Also, Chris Cakes will be at the Hannah Crawford School rest stop and
all riders will be able to enjoy the pancakes.
The terrain for the rides are
generally as follows: the12-mile family ride - in town and country roads
with mostly flat lands, the 32-mile ride - in town and country roads
with nice scenery and moderate hills, and the 62 and 100-mile rides - in town and
plenty of country roads with great scenery and some rolling hills for a
good physical workout.
Featured this year will be Historical Crawford County. Each ride
will take the rider through beautiful farm land and we will feature
several historical sites. This is a great ride for enjoying the fresh
country air and becoming acquainted with the farm life. Also, a massage
therapist will be at the Farm Museum at the end of the ride for any
riders to enjoy. Awards will be given for the First Registered,
the Eldest Rider, and the Largest Group.
This year we will again offer a raffle
with the prize being a bike donated by Bud's Bicycle Shop in Upper
Sandusky. Tickets will go on sale at our office from May thru
August 21, 2010. The drawing will take place at the BTVB office at
3pm and you need not be present to win.
Plan now to join the BTVB on this Best "Wurst" Bicycle Ride on Saturday,
August 21, 2010. Click here to download our registration form.
Sites to see during your biking
visit to Bucyrus:
Antique Farm
Machinery Museum -
Crawford County Fairgrounds-
Talk about 'WOW' - the museum is a really nice facility with some great
gems from historical farms. Here you can see a combine and a real
horse-drawn sleigh! There's a wool tying table, a horse-drawn slip
scraper, the Woods' left handed corn picker and the "must ask about"
item, the bone grinder. All had a purpose in the farming industry. For
the ladies, there's the Wonder Washer washing machine used at the turn
of the century, definitely a piece of machinery that took a few muscles
to work. The museum is now regularly open on Sunday afternoons for
visitors and during the bike ride, it will be open following the ride
for visitors.
Bucyrus Model R.R. Association - Crawford County
Fairgrounds- This group's detailed model trains and railroads will be on
display during the ride.
Lowe-Volk Nature Center – Leesville-The ever-expanding
programming at this facility is another 'Wow' for riders. The center is
one of our county's sparkling gems, located in an area rich in historic
events, as well as the natural beauty. Here you'll find a variety of
flora and fauna around and about the origin of the Sandusky River. Josh
Dyer, park naturalist, will be present on ride day to conduct tours and
answer questions about Lowe-Volk. You may want to plan a return trip to
take in more of this natural area and its programs.
Shunk Museum - Crestline-This museum features
Crestline’s history including its railroad history. Crestline began as a
railroad center in 1851 and was a major crossroad of the nation's Big
Four railroads until the 1970's.
T&OC Historic Railroad Station – Bucyrus-This station
boasts of Gothic and Queen Anne architecture and is listed on the
National Register of Historic Places. It was originally built in 1892
and last operated as a train station in the mid-1920s.
Train Buffs of Crawford County – Bucyrus-Another place
to stop, especially if you are a train fan or simply enjoy seeing
railroad scenes. This stop is a mini railroad station and track built by
local train buffs.
Bucyrus Speakeasy - Our 1/2
hour or one hour productions feature the lively history of Bucyrus’ own
downtown Speakeasy when it was a notable hangout for gangsters traveling
by train between Chicago and New York City.
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